Tigers exploit Madhu No Fire Zone
Ranil WIJAYAPALA
MADHU: The LTTE has reverted to the tactic of taking cover of the ‘No
Fire Zone’ in the holy Madhu shrine area as they got a heavy beating in
the Vavuniya and Mannar fronts losing a large number of their cadres,
Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday.
The LTTE resorted to this tactic on Saturday afternoon directing 81
mm mortar fire towards the troops in the Mannar sector taking the cover
of the Madhu shrine area at 4.47 p.m. and 4.49 p.m.
However, troops refrained from retaliating in honour of their
commitment to protect religious places during these confrontations.
This was amidst the LTTE was getting heavy beatings at the hand of
the troops in Vavuniya, Mannar, Weli Oya and Jaffna battlefronts on
Saturday.
“More than 15 Tiger cadres were killed on Saturday morning as troops
were advancing toward Periyapandivirichchan,” Brigadier Nanayakkara
added.
The LTTE fired mortar at the troops hours after the heavy losses in
Periyapandivirichchan close to Madhu area. Three soldiers were killed
and seven were wounded in action during this fierce battle in
Periyapandivirichchan which is located some three kilometres south of
Madhu shrine.
Tiger cadres operating in Periyapandivirichchan had withdrawn from
the area along with their casualties after this fierce battle.
According to military sources the LTTE seems to have been highly
disturbed by this situation as the advancing troops are poised to take
full control of the Madhu area after they capture Periyapandivirichchan
area.
The troops in Mullikulam area also confronted with Tiger cadres in
three different incidents killing at least nine Tiger cadres.
Six soldiers also sustained injuries due to LTTE anti-personnel mines
LTTE in Mullikulam and Thalayankulam. Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted
in Mannar sector too on Saturday as troops attached to Task Force-1
continued their advance in the Adampan area.
The troops in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in the Jaffna battle front
also killed seven LTTE cadres after confronting them in three separate
incidents on Saturday, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
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